Ruby got along with her fellow Slytherin housemates like a house on fire; and like a house on fire, Ruby always ended up getting burnt. Seven years into her education and almost all of her friends were from other houses. A fact that sometimes made evenings in the common rooms less than enjoyable.
Ruby had just settled down near the fire with one of her latest readings. The room wasn't quite as full as it normally was due to the late hour and the light chatter provided Ruby with just enough white noise to focus on the latest chapter of Numerology and Grammatica for Ancient Runes.
Unfortunately, even with next to no one else in the common room, Albert Spencer still managed to turn up only moments after she had settled down. Albert had decided she was his favourite target in her first year. He was only a year older, but with one of the most infamous pureblood families behind him he had the matching arrogance and cruelness.
Sometimes Ruby thought she may have been sorted into the wrong house. Sure she was ambitious, and there had been a few underhanded practices she'd indulged in during her schooling, but nothing too bad. There had been a rumour here and there, and a cursed pair of trousers that slowly tightened over the day when Whale wouldn't stop asking her out. Not that being mean was a quintessential part of being a Slytherin, but Ruby was of the mind that telling someone to their face that you didn't like them was a much better option than trying to get back at them cunningly. Whale was an exception; he hadn't left her much room to move. He hadn't taken any of the hints she gave him.
Ruby hadn't even read a full page when her hackles rose. She could feel someone's eyes on her, and a quick glance revealed Spencer coming towards her, a dangerous glint in his eye.
"Well, well. If it isn't the mutt. I didn't know dogs could even read."
"And I didn't know they let cavemen into the school." Came the sharp reply from across the fire place. "But here you are."
Spencer spun around to face Regina Mills.
Mills was one of Slytherin's two prefects, and if rumours were to be believed, she had been offered the head girl position only to turn it down. She was the top in all of her subjects, and when you saw how much time she spent pouring over books and parchment it was really no surprise. Right now she had a large book floating in front of her and a roll of parchment spread over her knees. She held a quill over the parchment, careful not to drip ink as she peered over her glasses at Spencer.
"I don't see what this has to do with you, Mills."
"We have NEWTS in two weeks, and while you're happy to work whatever job your father hands you I actually have some sort of ambition." She scoffed. "I don't know how you got into Slytherin."
Mills waved her hand dismissively at Spencer when it looked like he was going to argue with her.
"Go before you end up with a detention."
With a scowl, and a dirty look in Ruby's direction Spencer left.
"Thank you." Ruby said quietly.
If Mills heard her, Ruby couldn't tell. The other girl was already scribbling away on her parchment again.
/-/-/-/-/
It wasn't that Ruby wanted to use Mills for protection, but sometimes it seemed the only available seat was close to her. Mills, being both a seventh year and a prefect always had a seat next to the fire during winter and a seat near the window during summer. The Slytherins treated Gold, their other prefect with much the same respect. It took Ruby a few weeks to realise the same was happening to her and Ruby couldn't for the life of her figure out why.
Spencer rarely approached her now unless it was in the hallway between classes, and even then it could only be for a brief time before they were both late to their next class. Every time he glanced her way in the Great Hall or the common room, either Mills or Gold seemed to be close by. Spencer was left with nothing but hateful glares for the last few months of the school year.
And Mills never said a word to her the whole time they sat next to each other.
/-/-/-/-/
Every carriage Ruby popped her head into was either full, or had Gryffindors in it. While the prejudice of Slytherins had decreased after the war, it was still far from gone, particularly from the Gryffindors who could never understand why the Slytherins back then had refused to fight the Dark Lord's army; their families. There were only a few carriages left when Ruby poked her head into one with only Mills and Gold inside. She almost left again, but Gold distractedly waved her inside and towards one of the seats. Their conversation didn't stutter in the slightest.
"She's not exactly ambitious or cunning." Gold said.
Ruby pulled out a book and settled down into her seat, trying her best to ignore everything Gold and Mills said to each other.
"No." Regina agreed with a thoughtful looks. "But that could be a nice change of pace. She does have most of the other qualities, after all. Some of the others already look to her for leadership, even if she doesn't know it, and her marks show that she's certainly clever."
"Not to mention her Quidditch abilities. She has some resourceful moves on the pitch, and I don't think I've ever seen someone so determined to chase a ball before."
A smirked curled across Gold's lips and Mills just scoffed at him. "You're so rude. Are we agreed then?"
"Yes, yes. She'll do fine. I'll pass on our recommendation to the Headmaster. Shall we start our rounds then? One last time for posterity's sake?"
Quickly, Mills and Gold left and Ruby was able to read in peace. She had the weirdest feeling they had been talking about her. But why, was completely beyond her.
The carriage didn't stay quiet for long, not when Spencer and his lackeys barged their way inside only to stand in the doorway, towering over Ruby.
"There's no one to protect you anymore, Lucas. I'd hate to miss out on one last chance to be a bitch to you. Not that you'd understand, not being a real Slytherin and all."
Ruby tucked her book away and stood to face Spencer. While he could do almost anything without suffering consequences for it, Ruby still had one more year at Hogwarts to go. A fight on the train home could get her expelled at worst. Especially if Spencer complained to his father about it.
Someone cleared their throat behind Spencer, clearly annoyed.
"She's more of a Slytherin than you are, Spencer. You're only in this house because you're a pureblood and no one else wanted you. Besides, I think Miss Lucas will make an excellent prefect next year. Don't you Gold?"
Standing next to Mills, his arms crossed across his chest Gold nodded.
"Indeed. She understands what loyalty is. One Slytherin is just as good as another."
Spencer quickly fled, his lackeys hot on his heels. Gold and Mills once again settled into the carriage, this time entertaining themselves with books.
Ruby looked between them but bit her tongue. Neither prefect looked like they wanted to be disturbed.
As the train slowed both Gold and Mills packed away their books and prepared to usher all of the other students off of the train. Gold was quickly out of the carriage and Mills made to follow. She paused in the doorway.
"Good luck next year, Lucas. Send me an owl when you finish up at Hogwarts, alright? I'm sure we'll have some catching up to do."
With that she was gone.